Fabulous matches yesterday. Pogba was brilliant for France the only player that really turned up for them, Kante had probably the least effective game if seen him have and the French were so open. But to be fair the Swiss were excellent every player turned up and gave everything. Spain v Croatia was entertaining, but neither side can defend and whilst Spain may get passed Switzerland, Belgium or Italy will be waiting in the semi final and thats where I expect the winner to come from. Looking like a Belgium v Germany final to me!
Whilst the scheduling has favoured England with Friday night/Saturday games so far (from a viewers perspective), tonight's is curious. Sweden v Ukraine get the prime spot, should have the England Germany game on later, that will have more interest to neutrals I'd have thought.
They’re getting better and better which bodes well for them but the first two games they looked very ordinary and defensively I don’t think they’re all that.
So we can add Deschamps to the list of coaches who think bringing on Sissoko will help protect a narrow lead, and then wonder why they bothered ten minutes later
They managed to score 10 goals in 2 games without having an on form striker, that suggests danger. They also look to have more players on the field. The number of times their opposition finds 3 players around their man with ball is also scary. Spain is an example of having a system of play which is taught in their schools and up. They all know what they are doing, only their personal level of skill limits them.
Similar can be said of Italy, who at times look like their entire squad is on the pitch given there's somehow eight players surrounding their box one second then six players getting forward the next
Kante was ineffective because he was doing Pogba's work, as well as his own. The Utd man was doing his usual luxury player ****, playing some nice football but not working. That's why Xhaka had enough time to look like Pirlo.
I didn’t think Kante looked that bad. Granted I only saw the second half but he was everywhere. Seems to me they were more let down by a poor choice of system by the coach in the first half, a lack of depth at fullback, and their CBs switching off at key moments. Take nothing away from the Swiss though, who were magnificent.
I guess that I am judging Kante against the very high standards that he generally performs at. There is probably something in the fact that Pogba was absent from midfield, but he was the only French player really creating in the final third with Griezzman anonymous as well. So maybe the coach should have noticed and got another body (another than Sissoko) into the area where the swiss were strong.
I think we have a fair chance of winning this afternoon. However, if we do I suspect it will not be because we played well, it will be because the Germans didn't. Can't wait to find out our latest baffling team selection. Will we see Mount for Grealish even though (1) Mount has been isolating and has only trained with the team since yesterday (I believe) and (2) Grealish is one of our only threats? Will we see Sancho who the Germans know and are wary of? And as for people complaining Southgate isn't an innovative manager, will we continue with the clever tactic of having one of the best strikers in the world and then not giving him the ball?
Teams live or die by their coaches decisions sometimes.I can remember Alf Ramsey taking off Bobby Charlton when England were 2-0 up and losing 3-2. (Thank you Bonetti!)
I’d like to see us play the team that started against the Czechs and go at Germany, their back line isn’t the quickest and it’s been seen this tournament that you can get at them with pace, which Saka and Sterling have. I’m concerned though that Southgate will go to 3 at the back, which I’ve never been truly convinced by us playing, and that we’ll be too negative and surrender too much of the ball. A compromise would be 4-3-3 with Henderson/Rice/Phillips to try and dominate the German midfield but I’d rather see Rice +1 and then Grealish tbh. Henderson is short of game time and didn’t look on the pace against the Czechs. This is a good German side but they’re vulnerable at the back and lack the international class strikers they’ve had in the past, but if we lose the midfield battle then the inevitable will happen because they have plenty of quality elsewhere on the pitch. Win in the middle of the park and avoid any brainfarts at the back and we’ve got as good a chance as anyone of progressing, as long as we can actually get the ball to the forwards in good positions.
So negative. As a nation, why can’t we just get behind them and be positive even if deep down we don’t believe. Enough of you can do it for Spurs but not for England and right now England are a lot closer to winning something than Spurs.
Make up your mind. Is it Ramsay or Bonetti you are blaming? By the way, Charlton was a very old man by 1970, in the heat of Mexico, I doubt he would have saved the day.
